Florida basketball: Gators look to Boston University for big man

The Florida basketball team isn’t putting all their eggs in one basket when it comes to getting another inside player for next season.

While Kerry Blackshear continues to mull over his decision on where to play next season as a graduate transfer, the Florida basketball team is looking at options.

Gator Country is reporting that the Gators have reached out to Boston University graduate student Tyler Scanlon as a potential option if Blackshear decides to go elsewhere.

Scanlon reportedly put his name in the NCAA transfer portal last week and the Gators were quick to make contact.

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However, Florida was not the only school to reach out to the 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward. It was reported that he has been contacted by Arkansas, Illinois, Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Fighting Illini are the early favorites to secure Scanlon, but that did not stop the Gators from reaching out.

The Virginia grad student averaged 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game last season to go along with 1.5 steals per game for the Terriers.

Despite the contact, Blackshear remains the priority for the Gators as the Virginia Tech grad student has listed the Gators as one of a few potential landing places.

Blackshear averaged 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for Virginia Tech last season and elected to pull his name out of consideration for the NBA draft last month, opening the door for the Gators.

According to 247Sports, the Florida Gators reached out to Blackshear after he entered the NCAA transfer portal, but Blackshear elected to initially enter the NBA Draft.

Scanlon, on the other hand, doesn’t have the shooting prowess of Blackshear — shooting just 34 percent from the field last season — however, he played for a much less experienced Boston College team last year, which could have contributed to the lower percentage.

But, his shooting percentage went down gradually in each of the last three seasons. As a redshirt freshman, Scanlon shot right around 40 percent and, as a redshirt sophomore, his shooting percentage was about 39 percent.

Scanlon could add a playmaking ability that the Gators seemed to lack last season. He had an 18.1 percent assist rate last year, which would have been second to just Andrew Nembhard, according to Gator Country.

The biggest question is whether Scanlon would be able to compete physically in the Southeastern Conference. This is a big question mark and the likely answer is that it would take more training and a lot of floor time to bring him to that level.

All-in-all, Blackshear needs to remain the priority as Scanlon would not necessarily be the full-time forward that could provide an immediate impact to the Gators.

Ed. Note: Corrects previous version to Scanlon attending Boston University, not Boston College.